Sideboard Silky Oak top on Maple base

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Just bought this 90% sanded. At least I can finish the job and a chance to use some maple Estapol to highlight the grain. Only the challenging areas left to sand so I will remove the door and use a mixture of hand sanding, Dremmel and MultiMaster. Once it is all sanded I will use some sanding sealer and then Estapol. I'm going to see if I can just toothbrush scrub the handles with water and reuse as they are. For the castors 3 are OK but one needs some bending of the cover back into place then I will try cleaning with CLR. Did the really put Silky Oak tops onto Maple bases?

Any comment appreciated.
Cheers,
Nick
Front original.jpgSide original.jpgCastor original.jpgDoor handle original.jpgDrawer handle original.jpg

[auscab]

You can improve the look of Estapol by throwing it out in the rubbish . LOL Edit , Just kidding

On some work you can use the sanding sealer thinned then go with shellac on top of that.

You cant use shellac on to of Estapol top coats though , it wont stay . Not that your asking about that , just thought Id mention it though .

If you have to stick to putting Estapol over the sanding sealer then I would be thinning it and seeing if a final rub back with fine wool and wax improves what can be an ugly plastic finish . Specially if its put on thick.

I use paper for fine cut backs in between coats of what ever I'm using , and fine wool, 0000, is used for final rub backs after paper, where adjusting the shine to a flat is wanted.

Rob

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Finally the top before sanding which was hard going with the thick layers of paint.
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Finally the top exposed but now I see large dowel size holes plugged as equal space around the top. I don't think digging the very hard putty will do any good long term. Next steps will be some fine sanding. If the top didn't have the plugs I was going to shellac but now I will revert to Estapol. Romiving the heavily sprayed inside and out has been a real challenge. I'm hoping it will be an OK piece for someone.
Top sanded.jpgTop sanded plus plugs.jpg

[auscab]

Has the top been turned the other way up at some stage ? Im wondering if the plugged holes should be on the underside.
Watch out for orbital marks from the heavier grade paper as well . Specially on the top .

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Thanks for asking. I checked underneath and found a big piece out of the middle where it looks like a knot was. Next stage of fine sanding. Then sanding sealer and finer sanding
I would really like to understand why they put a layer of 2mm putty on top of some of these things. I'm sanding an inherited kitchen hutch and it is such a task to go thrugh the paint to the putty layer

[Lappa]

The puttyed holes will stand out like the proverbials. I’d be replacing them with tas oak plugs or a coloured filler as i’ve found old putty doesn’t stain very well.

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Now you remind me I agree. I'll have some fun cleaning them out

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I used a Dremel to safely clean out enough of the holes to access the screws and remove them. First picture is of the underside of the top when I removed it. I think this confirms this did not come from this piece. I thought flipping the top could make life better until ..... Nice big holes in the centre and end where someone added screws to hold the boards together. I guess this was furniture being recycled with thick white paint to hide the wood. 3rd picture is of the base without top (after I spent time sanding a lot of white thick spray paint) and the top with the holes (mostly cleaned). Since it was the original top and needs so much work I think I will look at breaking down a maple wardrobe (someone cut below the bottom draw off and even there is water impacted. This silky oak top will probably help another piece of furniture comeback to life.

Side note: Able to source steel wool and Carnauba wax at a local Bunnings ( well maybe not so loacl but at least I didn't have to travel to the other side of the city )
Top underside.jpgTop underside centre hole.jpgTop underside end hole.jpgBase no top.jpgTop removed.jpg

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Finally took another step with this one as I started applying shellac today and will hopefully apply many layers and then hopefully find a top.

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